DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF APPROACH VS AVOIDANCE CONTENTMENT ON GOAL STRIVING

Abstract

Current literature is divided on the motivational effects of contentment. Some researchers hint that contentment might facilitate approach behaviour through increased effort, while others suggest that contentment may result in avoidance behaviour through reduction in effort. Defining contentment broadly as the peaceful acceptance and satisfaction in one’s circumstance, this study explores the possibility of there being two types of contentment, and their differential effects on goal striving. Using a recall task, participants were induced to feel (i) approach contentment from meeting an academic expectation, (ii) avoidance contentment from adjusting an academic expectation, or (iii) neutral emotion. As predicted, participants who experienced avoidance contentment rated academics as less important, compared to the approach contentment and neutral condition. However, this did not translate to differences in time allocated to academic pursuits. The findings provide some support for the proposition that there are different types of contentment, though further exploration is required.